Bethlehem flips switch on lighting project

Published 8:02 pm, Wednesday, December 12, 2012

BETHLEHEM – A $10,000 Town Hall lighting upgrade will move Bethlehem one step closer toward its goal of becoming a sustainable municipality.

On Wednesday evening,the Town Board authorized an engineering firm to complete an overhaul of the town's lighting systems, upgrading to more energy-efficient lighting structures in order to save on both funds and energy use.

The new lighting will cost the town just over $10,000 to install, but is expected to save the town nearly $8,000 annually, as well as shaving about 70,000 kilowatts off of the town's annual energy expenditure.

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"We're going to save energy and save money, both of which are important," said Supervisor John Clarkson.

The effort is part of the town's "Sustainable Bethlehem" initiative, launched last March, which, among other things, seeks to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in its own operations, in hopes that similar practices will trickle down to town residents.

The project will involve upgrading a majority of the lights in Town Hall, including the auditorium, by installing high-efficiency lights and lighting structures. The town will also install occupancy sensors to shut off lighting in unoccupied rooms.

The total cost of the project will actually be closer to $30,000, but National Grid will contribute about $20,000 through the National Grid Energy Conservation Program, as well as provide design and installation services to the town through local engineering contractors.

The town estimates that the upgrade will pay for itself in about 16 months. In the future, the town may also consider similar plans for the highway garage and the Kenwood Avenue public works garage.